Episode 3 of "Feud: Capote vs. The Swans," entitled "Masquerade 1966," opens in the vibrant year of 1966, as Truman Capote embarks on a documentary chronicling his life, filmed by the renowned Maysles brothers. This follows the remarkable success of his groundbreaking book, 'In Cold Blood.' The bulk of this episode unfolds through intimate interview footage, capturing Capote's deep friendship with Babe, whose loyalty he holds dear.
As the Swans gather, Truman announces a grand masquerade ball, with a mysterious guest of honor. Naturally, each member assumes it's them and goes to extraordinary lengths to remind Truman of their close bond. Babe takes charge of the decorations and invitations, but her composure shatters when Bill's next mistress joins the planning committee. Truman's sarcasm is evident to the Maysles, but he remains reassuring in Babe's presence, secretly capturing her volatile fights with her husband while reassuring her that the cameras are off.
Truman reveals that the documentary aims to expose the lives of American royalty. He offers exclusive insights, even secretly filming C.Z.'s nude portrait. When the IRS raids her home, he rushes to her side. In the interview, he acknowledges his role as a problem solver and comforter, finding purpose in these acts. He recognizes that no one is indispensable and, to ease C.Z.'s anxiety, hints that she is the esteemed guest of honor.
Later, Truman gossips with Slim about their uninvitable guests. She's confident he won't use footage of her unguarded moments, threatening to blacklist him if he does. However, her anger erupts when he invites the woman who stole her husband. As always, he whispers to the Maysles to keep rolling, hyping her up and reassuring her that she will be the one to shine as the guest of honor.
At home, Truman dances with Albert Maysles, discussing the Swans with a mix of admiration and sarcasm. He finds inspiration for his piece 'Answered Prayers' and wonders if he should expose their truths in his writing. This episode is a vivid portrayal of Truman Capote's complex world, filled with drama, loyalty, and the unwavering pursuit of truth.
On D-Day, the revelation of Katharine Graham as the actual guest of honour left everyone stunned. Widowed after her husband's tragic suicide, she valiantly steered the Washington Post with determination and grace. The Swans, however, dismissed the honor with a casual laugh, insisting they had never desired it in the first place.
The Maysles' camera captured the festivities in all their raw, unfiltered glory: Babe picking a fight with Bill, whispers about C.Z.'s financial ruin, and Slim locked in a bitter dispute with her ex-husband's wife. Then, the unexpected arrival of Ann Woodward and her son disrupted the party, turning the atmosphere sour. She pleaded with Truman to introduce her son to the high society, but he responded with insults, branding her a murderer and summoning security. She accused him of being deliberately cruel and stormed out in a huff.
Truman seemed unaffected by the drama, but his mood darkened when Jack started dancing with all the Swans. He lambasted the behavior as uncivilized and blamed Jack's upbringing. Jack, in turn, lashed out, calling the party boring and suggesting that everyone in Truman's circle was just pretending to like him.
Meanwhile, Lee watched Truman waltzing alone, and the scene shifted to her interview. She called him out for his lies to the Swans, claiming each one was his closest friend. She pointed out that Truman exploited women's fears and positioned himself as their great protector, but there was no such thing as a loyal best friend.
The scene shifted back to the present, with Truman watching the footage of Lee and Ann. Feeling uneasy, he decided to scrap the documentary. He claimed that the information they had was too significant to be reduced to a documentary; it needed to be a book, where he could describe it in his own words. Albert saw through his excuse but chose to let it slide.
At the end of Feud: Capote vs. The Swans Episode 3, we were transported back to the reality of the ball. Truman spotted his mother, Nina, who laughed at his decor but wore a proud smile. He called her his best friend and the true guest of honour. As they danced, Lee watched Truman waltzing alone, a poignant reminder of the complexities and contradictions that defined his world.
